Misha asked that I give a reflection of the year. Since she's in charge of this goal-setting blog hop, I'd better do it.My goal was to get 24 rejections by the end of the year. I received one rejection in December which brings my total to 15. That's not what bothers me.What bothers me is that at the beginning of 2016 my rejections were encouraging, even a bit personalized, but by the end they were all forms again. Now, 15 is a pretty small sampling, so I shouldn't be worried about that. So what really bothers me...is that I have no new manuscripts to submit.

​It's not for lack of ideas - I have lists and lists! But none of them are gelling into anything. ​I think my passion has died.​I've tried resurrecting a few old ones to see if I could polish them up.

I've tried free-writing to see if a story immerges.

But nothing worth submitting has come out of it.

Yep, Folks, I officially have Writer Burnout.

Let's see, where's the rule book on Writer Burnout? ​Aha, here it is:

When you have Writer Burnout... ​

1. Eat Chocolate2. If the sugar high doesn't work, then maybe the sugar crash will. So eat chocolate ice cream too. 3. Play video games. The mindless wasted time is sure to get your creative juices going again.4. Surf Social media. There's bound to be a great idea on Pintrest. Or maybe Twitter.5. Open a blank document. And stare at it.6. Refuse to read any books because it will just make you more angry that you can't write well.7. Give up.

OK, maybe those aren't the best things to do when you have Writer Burnout. Let me try again:

What to REALLY do...

1. Nurture your creative self. Save your chocolate for when you're on a creative roll or to celebrate your new finished manuscript.2. Pay attention to your body and feed it what it needs rather than what it craves. 3. Go for a walk.Try a new sport. The change of setting or experience will do more to get your creative juices flowing than video games. 4. While ideas can be found on Pintrest and Twitter, if you're not in the right mindset, you'll miss them altogether. Instead try something new like a craft-honing course, or joining challenges like Storystorm and 12X12.5. If the story's not coming, take a break. Give yourself permission to pause in your writing or set aside your manuscript for a while. Be sure to give a deadline when you'll circle back, though, so your burnout doesn't become permanent.6. Read for the fun and enjoyment of reading instead of comparing your work. If you're like me, eventually the urge to write will return.7. Never give up. Find your passion again, do whatever it takes. You have to believe in yourself.

(I guess this is a pep talk for me more than anything. P.S. It's not working.)

So About 2017 ​

​I'll never stop writing, but maybe I'm trying too hard to be published.​I've decided to cut back on my submissions. Only submit something when I think it's truly marketable.

SO...Starting at the 15 rejections I've already received, my goal will still be getting rejected 24 times by the end of 2017. I guess technically that means I'm only getting rejected 9 more times.​In the Meantime...Maybe I'll find something to reignite the fire.Or maybe I won't.​I need choco - er - broccoli.

I feel for you. Maybe you're right and you have been focusing too much on the submission-rejection process, which can be pretty soul destroying. Perhaps it's time to write something just for yourself... somethin you enjoy and don't care if it ever gets published or not!
In the meantime, inspired by your 2016 goal, I'm aiming for 30 rejections in 2017 :D

I'm sorry you got into the writing rut. It happens. I haven't written a word in December either. What helps me often is reading. Sometimes I would read a new book and think: what would've happened if the hero didn't make that choice but this one instead? What if he was a she? What if she lived in a fantasy world with magic? Some of my best stories were born this way?
Good luck with your writing in the new year.